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Preparing for our second ED this fall. The first was so much fun we absolutely had to do it again. Met some really great folks at Oktoberfest in 2008 and learned some drinking songs which we’ll have to brush up on. So this time we’ll pick up a 2013 535i in September. Basic plan is about a week driving a leisurely route from Munich to Vienna, drop off there, then a Danube river cruise back to Munich and Oktoberfest. We’ll avoid the Autobahn as much as possible and enjoy the scenery on the beautiful two-lane roads through Austria and the Alps. Following is our planned itinerary, with just a few of the highlights listed. Any comments/recommendations are enthusiastically welcome.

TBD Train San Diego to Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 2-3 days (Hotel: Simpson House Inn)
Highlights:
- Luxuriating at Simpson House Inn
-Playing the Robert Morton Theater Pipe Organ
at the Arlington Theater.
-Pick up car. Drive home to San Diego!!!

Hitler's Eagles Nest is not so close to Garmisch that I would consider it a sightseeing day trip. You would need a couple of days in Berchtesgaden Land to see the sights as well as Salzberg. Around Garmisch there are the three castles and the beautiful church in Wies. We just got back from our ED and spent 4 nights in both Berchtesgaden Land and the Garmisch area. If you are thinking of using the A8 for traveling East-West especially on the weekends then you might want to rethink the plan The A8 was a parking lot during those times as it is one of the few E-W autobahn in southern Germany.

Hey looking at your schedule I realized we will both be in Munich at the same time even though we were going to do Oktoberfest on the 30th. We should still do a celebratory beer. Our delivery day is the morning of the 29th and we arrive in Munich at night on the 28th.

Thanks for the input. I think we will delay Eagle's Nest so we can see more around Garmisch in our 2 1/2 days there. Also, we intend to avoid the A8 as much as possible and stick to the scenic routes. Probably slow also but who cares. Slow ( and variable) is good with a new car!